Water

Decades ago, Brookfield decided to allow large-scale development on Federal Road without a public water supply. Now it's playing catch-up.

This is what happens when a community allows poor planning to set its agenda. The tax revenue brought by development was wanted. The attitude was, who cares if a public water supply isn't available?

Now the lack of a public water supply along the Federal Road corridor in Brookfield is hindering more development and causing problems for some condominium complexes.

President-elect
Barack Obama
, with the support of the nation's governors, is working on a multi-billion dollar economic stimulus program to create jobs and address the nation's crumbling infrastructure.

In the case of the southern stretch of Federal Road in Brookfield, nothing is crumbling because there is no public water system.

But Brookfield First Selectman Bob Silvaggi hopes running a water line from Silvermine Road to the Danbury line would qualify for the Obama stimulus. It would cost $3 million and, Silvaggi says, it is "ready to go."

Around the nation, states are compiling lists of infrastructure projects that are "shovel ready" -- meaning ready to go within a few months of being funded.

It was
Darrell Smith
, chief of the state
Department of Public Health
's drinking water section, who suggested to town officials that a Federal Road water line might be eligible for the Obama stimulus program.

Whether this project meets the strict requirements of the stimulus program is debatable. The project is needed, but design and permits are not complete.

Gov.
M. Jodi Rell
says the state is looking for projects that really are "shovel ready" and fully designed and permitted.

As envisioned, the water for the new line would be sold by
Brookfield Water Co.
to
Rural Water Co.
, which under state law holds the service rights to that section of Federal Road.

That Rural Water has held the rights to provide water while failing to do so points out the madness of a state system that allows private companies to hold rights without fulfilling their responsibilities to customers.

With or without the stimulus money, this is a project the town should move forward. It would provide clean water, fire protection and more opportunities for economic development in the Federal Road corridor.